Lift truck



Aug. 26, 1930.

A. M. BARRETT LIFT TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. l4, 1926 Aug. 26,1930. A. M. BARRETT 1,773,934

' LIFT TRUCK Filed Jan. 14, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. A w b W a J n 6 5 Ao I q i 2 .v V l 9 M M). J v e v 6 6 n m 9 l w I Au 26, 1930. A. M.BARRET T 1,773,934

LIFT TRUCK Filed Jan. 14, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet s type designed to'bePatented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orFicE ARTHUR M. BARRETT, OFWINNETKA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BARRETT-CRAVEN? COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LIFT TRUCK Application filed January 14, 1926.Serial No. 81,191.

invention relates to lift trucks of the backed under a low platform onwhich the load is placed for lifting the platform and its loadtotransport the load from place to place, and has for its objects toprovide a lift truck of improved construction so designed that the loadmay be lifted by a step by step movement effected by repeated strokes ofthe usual steering lever or handle, and in which the load will be heldup by hydraulic means which, as a further feature of improvement,'servesalso to cushion the descent of the load so that it descends gradually;also to provide lifting means by which the pull on the lifting leverrequired to lift the load is substantially the same at all stages of thelifting operation. I accomplish these objects as illustrated in thedrawings and hereinafter described. What I claim as new is set forth inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with some parts broken away, of my improvedtruck showing the lifting frame or platform in its lowered or loadreceivingposition;

Fig. 2 is principally a plan view of the truck, some parts beingbrokenaway and some other parts being shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section of'the front part ofthe truck showing the parts in loading position;

Fig. 4: is a similar view showing the lifting frame partly elevatedtoload transporting position;

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2,illustrating some of the operating parts, including the hydraulic checkby which the load is held up, in the position they occupy when thelifting frame is in its lowered position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showlng the posi as it rises or descends, 8, 9indicate the side members of the main frame, which are in the form ofmetal bars of any suitable commer-' cial shape connected together neartheir rear ends by a transverse bar 10, referabl of angle iron, as shownin Fig. 2. aid side ars are also connected by a rear axle 11 whichcarries rear wheels 12. The axle 11 is preferably located at the extremerear ends of the side bars 8, 9, and the cross-bar 10 is placed a shortdistance forward of the rear wheels, as shown in Fig. 1. The front endsof the side members 8, 9 of the main frame are connected by a cross-head13 secured thereto by bolts 14, 50, and having a central opening toreceive a vertical spindle 15 and provide a bearing therefor. Thespindle 15 rises froma yoke 16 derstood that my improvements may beapplied to a truck having a single steering wheel, and the steeringwheel or wheels may be connected with the truck in any approved way, asmy present invention is not concerned with the specific manner in whichthe steering wheel or wheels are mounted. In the construction shown thesteering wheel spindle 15 is provided at its upper end with a head 19secured to said spindle so as to rotate therewith and having forwardlyextending ears 20, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Pivotally connected with said ears is a steering handle or lever 21, thelower end portion of which is bifurcated to provide separate members 22that fit against the outer surfaces of the ears 20 and are connectedthereto by a transverse pivot 23. By this arrangement the steeringhandle may swing about the ivot 23 to assume either a substantiallyupright position or an approximately horizontal position. i It may alsobe used to "rotate the head 19' to steer the front wheels.

Also mounted on the pivot 23 is a shackle arm 24 which is adapted toextend up alon sidethe' rear side of the handle 21 and to e connectedthereto by a latch 25 to swing in unison therewith, and to be rockedthereby I handle 21 for raising the lifting frame com-.

about the pivot 23. The shackle arm 24 is preferably mounted between theears 20, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with a stop 26 whichprevents it from swinging back beyond a substantially 11 right position.A cross bar 27 on the han e 21 limits its rearward movement by engagingthe shackle arm, as shown in Fig. 3. By tripping the latch the shacklearm 24 may be disconnected from the handle so that the latter may beswung u or down independently thereof. Said shack e arm serves toconnect the handle 21 with. the lifting mechanism by which the liftingframe is raised, as will be hereinafter described. The lifting framecomprises side members 28, 29 which extend longitudinally over the sidemembers 8, 9 of the main frame and are connected at the rear by across-bar 30, as shown in Fig. 2, said bar being preferabl of angle ironas shown by dotted lines in ig. 1. Near their forward ends the sidemembers 28, 29 are connected by a cross-bar 31 preferably of angle iron,having one of its flanges turned up as shown at 32 in Fig. 1. Thehorizonta flange of said bar 31 has its end portions turned-down andsecured to the side members 28, 29 by rivets 33. Thus the crossbars 30,31 together securely tie the sidemembers 28, 29 together and form astrong frame or platform to carry the load.

The lifting frame is supported on the axle 11 by links 34, 35 securelyconnected at their lower ends with the axle and extending upwardl andrearwardly to a point under t crossar where the are pivotally connectedwith the lifting rame in any suitable way, as'b a transverse shaft 36. Adesirable construction for this purpose is fully-shown and described inLetters PatentNo. 1,551,630,

granted to me September 1, 1925. The for ward ends of the side members28, 29 are connected with the ivots 14 of the main frame by swinginglinl s' 37, 38 which are ap roximatel parallel with the links 34, 35.hen the li ting frame is in its lowered position the links 37,38 extendupward and rearward to the forward ends of the side members 28, 29 ofthe lifting frame, with which they are connected b pivots 39, 40. Itwill be evident therefore, t at if the lifting frame be'move forwardrelatively to the main frame it will also rise, being carried up by thetwo pairs of swinging links 34, and 37, 38, respectively.

The mechanism actuated by the steering prises two swinging links 41, 42,preferably triangular in shape, which are pivotally connected with theside members 28, 29 of the lifting frame, preferably by means of atransverse shaft 43 best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Said links are arrangedto swing fore and aft and are located a short distance from the adjacentside members 28 29. Between the lower end portions of said links and theadjacent side members of the truck are toggle links 44, 45 pivotallyconnected with the links 41, 42, respectively, by pivots 46, and connected by pivots 47 with links 48, 49, the forward ends of which areconnected with the forward end portions of the side-members 8, 9 by thebolts 50. On the upper margins 51 of the links 48, 49 travel rollers 52,53 pivotally carried at the forward end portions of the side members 28,29 of the lifting frame in position to overlie said links. The surfaces51 on which said rollers run are cam cut, as shown in Fig. 4, forreasonshereinafter given.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each pair of links 44 48 and 45,49 constitute a toggle, and that lfy swinging the links 41 and 42forward from their normal position,- that is to say the position theyoccupy when the lifting frame is in its lowered position,-- the links48, 49 will be swung upward to the position shown in Fig. 4, therebypressing upward and forward on the rollers 52, 53, and consequentlycausing the lifting frame to move forward and upward through theswinging of the rear links 34, 35 and the front links 37, 38 thatconnect the lifting frame with the main frame. As the lifting framerises the rollers 52, 53 will travel rearwardly and upwardly on thelinks 48, 49, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The lower ends of the links 41, 42 are swung forward to raise thelifting frame in the manner above described, by means of a powertransmitting device in 'the form of a ratchet bar 54 which extendsrearwardl and downwardly from the shackle mem er 24, with which it isconnected by means of an eye 55 formed at the forward end of saidratchet bar "and slipped over said shackle member, as

is loosely or swingingly connected with said shackle member so that itdoes not interfere with lateral swinging of the steering handle. Towardits rear end the ratchet bar 54 is provided at its up er surface withratchet teeth 56 which are a apted to intermesh with teeth 57 formed onthe under side of a cross-bar 58, the ends of which are mounted in thelinks 41, 42, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, sothat said cross-barswings with said links about the shaft 43 as an axis. The purpose ofgiving the surfaces 51 of the links 48, 49 a cam conformation is tocause a substantially uniform upward and forward movement of the ratchetbar 54 and cross bar 58 for each unit of vertical movement of thelifting frame, so that the pull on the lifting handle required issubstantially the same at all stages of lift; and also to obtain asubstantially straight line motion of the cross-bar 58 and ratchet bar54. The lower rear end portion of the ratchet bar 54 may swing toward orfrom the crossbar 58 to engage or disenga e the teeth 57, and the freeend of said ratc et bar overlies a roller 59 mounted in the lower arms60 of two bell crank levers 61 which are spaced apart a distancesomewhat greater than the width of the ratchet bar 54, and are fulcrumedon a pivot 62 mounted between the forwardly extending arms 63, 64 of ayoke 65, best shown in Fig. 7. The cross-bar 58 extends through the arms63, 64 of said yoke, adj acent' to their front ends, which extenddownward in advance of said cross bar, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and6, the pivot 62 beingmounted in said arms a little below and in front ofthe cross-bar 58. The levers 61 are provided with upwardly extendingarms 66 which project up in front of the cross-bar 58 for a purposewhich will be hereinafter explained. At present it will suffice to saythat the arrangement is such that by pressing down on the ratchet bar54, through its engagement with the roller 59 it will rock the levers 61about the pivot 62 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby moving theupper arms 66 of said levers toward the cross-bar 58.

Formoving the ratchet bar 54 toward or from the cross-bar 58 I provide apedal 67 fulcrumed on a pivot 68 mounted in ears 69 carried by thecross-head 13, as best shown in Fig. 2. Said pedal comprises a forwardlyextending foot lever 7 O and an upwardly extending foot lever 71, asbest shown in Fig. 3. It also comprises a rearwardly extending arm 72which projects at one side of the ratchet bar 54 and carries twotransversely disposed rods 73, 74 spaced apart and projecting across theratchet bar 54, respectively above and'below the same. Said rods arespaced far enough apart so that the ratchet bar may move freelylengthwise of itself between them, but by rocking the pedal in onedirection or the other it will be apparent that the lower end of saidratchet bar may be moved toward or from the cross-bar 58. Actuation ofthe foot lever 70 lifts the lower end of said ratchet bar intoengagement with the teeth 57 through the agency of a leaf spring 75, sothat it is yieldingly held in engagement therewith, whereas actuation ofthe upright lever 71 disengages said ratchet bar from said teeth.Normally the ratchet bar drops away from said teeth by gravity andassumes the P05151011 illustrated in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4. The,ratchet teeth 56 are so inclined that when said ratchet bar engages theteeth 57 under theaction of the spring it may be moved downward andrearward past said teeth and independently of the cross-bar 58, but onupward and forwardmovement of sald ratchet bar one of its teeth willenga e the teeth 57 and consequently swing the lin s 41, 42 forward andactuate the toggle links 44, 48 and 45, 49 described.

The operation of the lifting devices as thus fardescribed is as follows:Assuming that the lifting frame or platform is in its low- 79 in saidflange.

in the manner that has been I ered position, the parts will then occupythe relation to each other shown in Fig. 3 except that the liftinghandle may or may not be in its upright position. Of course, when thetruck is being hauled from place to place the lifting handle isdisconnected from the shackle member 24 and is turned down to aconvenient position for hauling and steering the truck. When theoperator desires to. lift the load he swings the handle up to theposition shown in Fig. 3 and the latch 25 automatically engages theshackle member 24, thereby locking it to the handle. He then depressesthe foot lever 7 O to rock the pedal in a clockwise direction, therebyswinging the arm 72 upward and, through the transverse rod 74 and spring75, lifting the ratchet bar 54 into engagement with the teeth 57.

By then rocking the steering handle back? and forth, with long or shortstrokes as he may prefer, he lifts the load by a step by step movement.Forward movement of the lifting handle swings the links 41, 42 forward,thereby moving the toggle members 44, 45 and 48, 49 to a more acuteangular relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 4, the rear/ ends ofthe members 48, 49 IIlOVlIlg upwardly and consequently swinging the liforward and upward, as shown in said figure. Upon backward movement ofthe steering handle the ratchet bar 54 trips over the teeth 57 withoutaffecting the position of the links 41, 42.

During the lifting operation the load issustained by means of a fluidcheck apparatus, which also serves to cushion its descent, as will nowbe explained. Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 7, 76 indicates ahydraulic cylinder, preferably composed of two members 76*, 7 6", themember 76 being of smaller diameter than the member ,76", and

ing frame being fixedly connected telescopically therewith. Saidcylinder extends longitudinally of the truck, preferably centrallytliereofas shown ,in Fig. 2, and at its rear end is provided with'a head77 connected with the vertical flange of the cross-bar 10 by a bolt 78which passes loosely through an opening A spring 80 interposed betweenthe'head 81 of said bolt and said flange holds the head 77 yieldinglyagainst it. The forward end of the cylinder member 76 is provided with'ahead 82 havinga gland 83 and packing 84. Through the gland 83 extends atubular shaft 85, the rear end of which communicates with the interiorof the cylinder through a passage 85, and carries a piston 86 whichoperates in the cylinder mem er 76 and is moved longitudinally thereinincidentally to movement of the lifting frame, but performs no liftingfunction.

Said piston is provided at its rear end with a valve chamber 87 havingan annular seat 88 for a ball valve 89, which is confined in the chamber87 by a cage '90. The valve 89 :the check valve 89.

The forward end of the shaft 85 is fixedly connected with the centralportion 92 of the yoke 65. The arms 63, 64: of said yoke are providedwith sleeves 93, 94 which fit on the cross-bar 58 and are non-rotatablysecured thereto, as by pins 95, as best shown in Fig. 7. By thisconstruction, when the links 41, 42 move forward and upward, as thelifting frame rises the shaft 85 is drawn forward, permitting the liquidin the cylinder 76 to pass to the rear of the ascribed. Consequently thecheck valve 89, by preventing reverse flow of the liquid, will normallyhold the lifting frame in any position to which it may be lifted.

To permit the descent of the lifting frame a rod 96 is provided;whichextends through the tubular shaft 85 and at its rear end is reduced indiameter, or provided with a pin 97 which is adapted to project throughthe port 91' into engagement with the ball valve 89, so that by rearwardmovement of said rod the valve may be moved away from its seat, therebyopening the port 91 and permitting the liquid to flow through the pistoninto the fore part of the cylinder 76. The rod 96 extends forward of thefront end of the shaft 85 and a gland 98 is provided to prevent leakageat that point. The forward end of said rod is connected to a cross head99 lying between the arms 63, 64 of the yoke 65 adjacent to thecross-bar 58 as shown in Fig. 7, between the ends of which cross headand-the arms 66 of the levers 60 are interposed pins 100 arranged toslide in hearings in the cross-bar 58, as shown in said figure. Theforward ends of said pins are preferably connected to the*arms 66 bycotter pins 101. A spring 102 is preferably mounted on the tubular shaft85 between the piston 86 and thehead 82, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, toaid in starting the descending movement of the lifting frame. The rod 96is actuated to move the valv 89 away from its seat and permit thelifting frame to descend, in the following manner: When the operatorwishes to lower the lift mg frame he depresses the lever 71 therebyrocking the pedal in a counterclockwise" direction as viewed in Fig. 4,and through the transverse rod 7 3 positively moving the lower end ofthe ratchet bar 54 downward be? gond the position it assumesfby gravity.uch movement of the ratchet bar acts through the roller 59 to rock thelevers 60 in piston 86 as above the cross head 99 back, thereby movingthe A red 96 rearwardly and consequently unseating the valve 89. Toprevent accidental un- I seating of said valve, and to return the partsto normal position, a spring 103 is provided between the gland 98 andthe cross head 99, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. 7 Upon the unseating ofsaid valve the fluid in the rearward portion of the cylinder member 76is permitted to flow through the piston 86 andpassage 85* to thecylinder 76, so that said piston can move rearwardly and permit thedescentof the load. When pressure on the foot lever 71 is released thespring 103 moves the cross head 99 forward and rocks the levers 60 in aclockwise direction back to their normal position, while at the sametime the rod 96 is moved forward to permit the valve 89 to seat. therebypreventing further descent of the load.

From the foregoing description it will be seenthat by my improvedconstruction the load is automatically sustained at any point i to whichit may be lifted, and that it may be arrested at any point in itsdescent. B

connecting the forward end of thecheck cy inder with the lifting framethrough the links 41, 42 I obtain a practically uniform extension of theshaft 85 as the lifting frame rises, since the piston 86 moves apractically uniform distance for each vertical unit of movement of thelifting frame. It follows, of course, that a uniform checking of thedescent of the load is also obtained. By means of the liftin mechanismdescribed the pull required in lifting the load is substantially thesame at all stages of the lifting o eration,

so that the truck operates easily un er heavy load. In practice inlifting a light load the lifting handle 21 would be given longer strokesthan for lifting a heavy load, but the len 'th of the stroke 1s, ofcourse, optional with the operator. Ordinarily in lifting a light loadtwo strokes of the handle would be suflicient, while a maximum load canreadily be lifted by five short strokes.

So. far as I am aware, I am the first in the art to rovide a liftingtruck of the type described in which the liftin is accomplished bymechanical means and t e holding up of the load is effected by hydraulicmeans, and, as a further improvement, to employ such hydraulic means asa check to control the descent of the load. These features, therefore,are claimed generically. Furthermore, I wish it to he understood thatthe claims hereinafter made are not intended to be restricted to thespecific construction shown and described, except in so far as they aredirected to details of such construction, as various modifications willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. 1

links operable by said lever, and toggle mechanism actuated by saidlinks and having cam surfaces for applying lifting force to the liftingframe.

2. A lift truck comprising a main frame,

0 an endwise movable lifting frame, a lifting lever, toggle mechanismfor moving the lifting frame endwise in one direction to lift the same,means operatively connected withsaid lifting lever for actuating saidtoggle mechanism to lift the lifting frame step by step, and hydraulicmeans for normally holding the lifting frame against endwise movement inthe opposite direction.

3. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, a liftinglever, toggle mechanism for lifting the lifting'frame, ratchet devicesmovable longitudinally of the main frame, and operatively connected withsaid lifting lever for actuating said toggle mechanism to lift thelifting frame step by step, and means for normally holding the liftingframe against descent. I

4.. A lift truck comprising a main frame, an endwise movable liftingframe, a lifting lever, swinging links connected with one of saidframes, toggle mechanism connected with said links and operable bymovement thereof to move the lifting frame endwise in one direction tolift the same, means operatively connected with the lifting lever andoperable thereby to actuate said links to lift the lifting frame, andhydraulic means connected with said links for normally holding saidlifting frame against descent.

5. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, linkspivotally connected with the lifting frame to swing fore and aft, togglemechanism connected with said links and with the main frame and operableby the swinging of said links to lift the lifting frame, a lifting levermounted on the main frame, and ratchet devices carried by said links andactuated by said lever for swinging said links.

6. A lift truck comprising a main fi ame, a lifting frame, linkspivotall connected with the lifting frame to swing ore and aft, togglemechanism connected with said links and with the main frame andoperableby the swinging of said links to lift the lifting frame, alifting lever mounted on the main frame, ratchet devices carried by saidlinks and actuated by said lever for swinging said links, and hydraulicmeans for normally holding the lifting frame against descent.

7 A lift truckcomprisin a main frame, a lifting frame, links pivotal yconnected with the lifting frame to swing fore and aft, toggle mechanismconnected with said links and with the main frame and operable by theswinging of said links to lift the lifting frame, a lifting levermounted on the main frame, a ratchet tooth connected with said links, aratchet bar connected with said lever andmovable into or out ofoperative engagement with said ratchet tooth, and means for normallyholding the lifting frame against descent.

8. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, linkspivotally connected with the lifting frame. to swing fore and aft,toggle mechanism connected with said links and with the main frame andoperable by the swinging of said links to lift the lifting frame, alifting lever mounted on the main frame, a ratchet tooth connected withsaid links, a ratchet bar connected with said lever and movable into orout of operative engagement with said ratchet tooth, and hydraulic meansfor normally holding the lifting frame against descent.

9, A lift truck comprising a main frame, a hftmg frame, links pivotallyconnected with the lifting frame to swing fore and aft, toggle mechanismconnected with said links and .with the main frame and operable by theswinging of said links. to lift the lifting frame, a lifting levermounted on the main frame, a ratchet tooth connected with said links, aratchet bar connected with said lever and movable into or out ofoperative engagement with said ratchet tooth, hydraulic means fornormally holding the lifting frame against descent, and means operatedby movement of said ratchet bar out of engagement with said ratchettooth for actuating said hydraulic means to permit the descent of thelifting frame.

10. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, linkspivotally connected with the liftingframe to swing fore and aft, togglemechanism connected with said links and with the main frame and o erableby the swinging of said links to 1i t the lifting frame, a lifting levermounted on the main frame, a ratchet tooth connected with said links, aratchet bar connected with said lever and movable into or out ofoperative engagement with said ratchet tooth, hydraulic means fornormally holding the lifting frame against descent, means operated bymovement of said ratchet bar out of engagement with said ratchet toothfor actuating said hydrauhe means to permit the descent of the liftingframe, and means operable to move said ratchet bar into or out ofengagement with said ratchet tooth.

11. A lift truck comprising a main frame,

ment with said ratchet tooth, hydraulic means for normally holding thelifting frame against descent, means operated by movement of saidratchet bar out of engagement with said ratchet tooth for actuating saidhydraulic means topermit the descent of the lifting frame, meansoperable to move said ratchet bar into or out of engagement with saidratchet tooth, and a spring for normally movin the ratchet bar intoengagement with said ratchet tooth.

' 12. A lift truck com rising a main frame, a lifting frame, a liftinglever, mechanical lifting devices operable step by step by said lever tolift the lifting frame, a fluid check comprising a piston. actuatedincidentally tomovement of the lifting frame, and normally operating tohold the lifting frame at all stages of its lifting movement againstdescent, and lever mechanism operable to release said fluid check topermit the lifting frame to descend.

13. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a liftin frame, a liftinglever, mechanical lifting devices operable step by step by said lever tolift the liftin frame, a cylinder connected with one of said frames, apiston connected with the other frame and movable in said cylinderincidentally to the raising or lowering of the liftin frame, a checkvalve controlling the flow of fluid past said piston in one directionand operating normall to hold the lifting frame at all stages of itsifting movement against descent, and means operable to move said checkvalve out of operative position to permit descent of the lifting frame.

14. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, a liftinglever, lifting devices operable step by step by said lever to lift thelifting frame, a cylinder connected with the main frame, a pistonmovable in said cylinder incidentally to the raising or lowering of thelifting frame, said iston having a passage therethrough, a check valvenormally closingsaid passage to prevent descent of the lifting frame,and means operable to move said check valve out of operative position.

15. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, a liftinlever, mechanism operable by said lever to 11ft the lifting frame stepby step, a cylinder connectedwith the main frame, a piston movable insaid cylinder and connected with said lifting frame, said piston beingactuated to move longitudinally in said cylinder incidentally to thelifting or lowering of the lifting frame, a check valve normallypreventing flow of liquid in said cylinder around said piston to holdthe lifting frame against descent, and means op-' erable to move saidcheck valve out of operative position.

16. A lift truck comprising a main frame,

a lifting frame, a lifting lever, lifting devices for lifting thelifting frame, a ratchet device connected with said lifting devices, aratchet bar connected with said lifting lever and movable into and outof engagement with said ratchet device, a cylinder connected with themain frame, a piston operating in said cylinder and connectedwith thelifting frame, a check Valve normally preventing flow of liquid in saidcylinder around said piston to hold the liftin frame against descent,and devices actuated y movement of said ratchet bar out of enga ementwith said ratchet device to move sai check valve out of operativeposition.

' 17. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame,a liftinglever, swinging links connected with the lifting frame, llfting devicesconnected with said links and operable by the swinging thereof to liftthe lifting frame, a ratchet tooth connected with said swinging links, aratchet bar connected with the lifting lever and movable into or out ofengagement with said ratchet tooth, a cylin-' der connected with themain frame, a piston movable i said cylinder and connected with thelifting frame, a check valve normall preventing t yv of liquid past saidcylin er, to hold the liftin frame against descent, and devices actuatedby movement of said ratchet bar away from said ratchet tooth to movesaid check valve out of operative position.

18. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, a liftinglever, swinging links connected with the lifting frame, lifting devicesconnected with said links and operable by the swinging thereof to liftthe liftin frame, a ratchet tooth connected with sai swinging lin s, aratchet bar connected with the lifting leyer and movable into or out of.engagement with said ratchet tooth, a cylinder connected with the mainframe, a lston movable in said cylinderand connecte with the liftingframe a check valve normally preventing flow of liquid past saidcylinder, to hold the lifting frame against descent, a rocking leveractuated b movement of said ratchet bar away from said ratchet tooth,and

means actuated b said rocking lever for moving said check val ve out ofoperative position.

19. A lift truck comprising a main frame, a lifting frame, a liftinglever, swinging links connected with the lifting frame, a ratchet baroperable by said lifting lever and movable into and out of operativeengagement with said links toggle mechanism conment with said links,toggle mechanism con nected with-said links and comprising links havingcam surfaces, rollers carried by said lifting frame and running on saidcam surfaces, a cylinder connected with the main frame, a pistonoperating in said cylinder and connected with said first mentionedlinks, a check valve normally preventing flow of liquid in said cylinderaround said piston, to hold the lifting frame. against descent, andmeans for moving said check valve out of operative position to permitdescent of the lifting'frame.

21. In a lift truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, mechanical meanshaving positive mechanism connection to the lifting frame for raisingsaid lifting frame, and hydraulic means normally acting to hold thelifting frame against downward movement, the lifting frame beingotherwise free for downward movement when raised, said hydraulic meansbeing operable to release the lifting frame and cushion loweringthereof. a

22. In a lift truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, a liftinglever,mechanical means comprisin ratchet devices operable by said lever'or raising the lifting frame, and hydraulic means disposedlongitudinally of the truck and normally acting to hold the liftingframe against downward movement, said hydraulic means being operable torelease thev lifting frame and cushion lowering thereof.

23. In a lift truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, a lifting lever,mechanical means comprisingratchet devices operable by said lever forraising the lifting frame step by step, and hydraulic meansdisposedlongitudinally of the, truck and normally acting to holdthelifting frame against downward movement, said hydraulic means beingoperable to release the lifting frame and cushion lowering thereof.

24. In a lift truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, a ratchet member,means connected to said member and actuated thereby for raising thelifting frame, a lever mounted on the main frame, and a ratchet barconnected to the lever arid movable into operating relation to theratchet member, said bar being subjected to direct pull by the leverduring movement thereof in operating direction for raising the liftingframe.

25. In a lift truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, a ratchet member,means connected to said member and actuated thereby for raising thelifting frame, a lever mounted on the main frame, a ratchet bar movableinto and out of operating relation to the ratchet member, and operatingconnections between the lever and the bar, said bar being sub-- je'ctedto straight line pull lengthwise of the truck and the reactive force ofthe lever being exerted in a straight line and lengthwise of the truckoppositely to the pull on the bar,

when the lever is moved in operating direction for raising the liftingframe.

26. In a lifting truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, an operatinglever, and ratchet means for raising the lifting frame, said meansincluding a member connected to the lever and subjected to direct pullthereby.

27. In a lifting truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, an operatinglever, and ratchet means for raising the lifting frame, said meansincluding a member connected to the lever and subjected to direct pullthereby in a straight line lengthwise of the truck.

28. In a lift truck, a main frame, a lifting frame, a ratchet member,means connected to said member and actuated thereby for raising thelifting frame, a lever mounted on the main frame, a ratchet bar movableinto and out of operating relation to the ratchet member, operatingconnections between the lever and thebar, hydraulic means for normallyholding the lifting frame raised, and means for holding the bar out ofengagement with the ratchet member and for operating said hydraulicmeans to release the lifting frame and'cushion lowering thereof.

ARTHUR M. BARRETT.

